SHARE THIS

SHARE THIS

THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT DUOPA.

YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER A SITE THAT IS FOR U.S. HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ONLY.

By selecting "Yes" below, you certify that you are a healthcare professional and that you wish to proceed to the Healthcare Professionals Only section of this site. Products or treatments described on this site are available in the U.S. but may not be available in all other countries.

I am a licensed healthcare professional and wish to proceed to the Healthcare Professionals Only section of this site.

Talk to a Duopa nurse

Enter your name and phone number below. A Duopa Nurse will contact you.

First name*

Last name*

Phone number*

*Required information

Available to US residents only.

All information shared is private and never sold to third parties. There are no charges incurred to speak to a nurse.

A DUOPA NURSE SHOULD BE CALLING YOU NOW

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

AbbVie Inc. is providing this service to help patients find a doctor in their area who has prescribed Duopa.

No fees have been received by or paid to doctors for inclusion in this specialist locator directory. Inclusion of a physician in this directory does not represent an endorsement by or a recommendation from AbbVie Inc., nor does it imply that the doctor on the list will determine that Duopa is right for you.

You are ultimately responsible for the selection of a physician and it is an important decision that you should consider carefully. This tool is just one source of information available to you.

AbbVie Inc. is the maker and marketer ofDUOPA® (carbidopa and levodopa) enteral suspension.

Kern

Paul

MEET RUSS, A DUOPA PATIENT SINCE 2009

This is the personal story of one Duopa patient who has volunteered to tell his story. Individual experiences with Duopa may vary. Talk to your doctor to see if Duopa is right for you.

Russ D. was in his forties. He owned and ran what he calls "a typical Midwestern family farm" in Iowa, planting crops in the spring, tending to them in the summer, and harvesting in the fall. He spent the winter months servicing the farm equipment, doing the books, and marketing his crop of corn and soybeans. He loved traveling with Janet, his wife of 15 years, and their two young kids. In his spare time, Russ also loved flying. He had a commercial pilot's license, and occasionally flew charter and freight planes.

One day, Russ was loading a truck with grain and noticed something strange. His right hand was "kind of sticking" to his side, as he describes it.

Then, Russ says, "I went to see the neurologist and got the diagnosis. That was a life-changing event, of course, and I told my family and everybody was just sort of stunned."

Life with Parkinson's disease

I got to the point where I was taking levodopa pills every 90 minutes, but still had motor fluctuations.

Upon the initial Parkinson's diagnosis, Russ didn't fully understand what it was, but his wife had a pretty good idea. "It was frightening. My wife is a nurse, and she knew what was coming. The future started to feel very scary," Russ recalls. After further explanation, and doing some research on Parkinson's, he decided he would do everything possible to fight it.

Russ' doctor prescribed carbidopa/levodopa pills. The medication worked for Russ, but he began to have persistent "OFF" time, even with frequent doses. "I got to the point where I was taking levodopa pills every 90 minutes, but still had motor fluctuations."

Deciding on Duopa

Russ began researching other treatment options on the internet. That’s when he discovered a clinical trial for a different form of carbidopa/levodopa that was delivered to the intestine through a pump, now known as Duopa. Russ, like all patients taking Duopa, had a procedure to make a small hole (called a “stoma”) in his stomach wall to place a tube into his intestine. Duopa is continuously delivered through the tube over 16 hours by a pump. The most common adverse reactions associated with this stoma procedure are stomach pain and discomfort.

“Before I had the stoma surgery, I asked my doctor to tell me everything I needed to know about complications and risks involved with the procedure and the drug,” says Russ. His doctor also discussed the possibility of stoma infection and the importance of proper stoma care. Russ says he’s very careful about keeping his stoma clean.

Russ’ doctor went over all the things that Russ needed to look out for. With Duopa you have to watch out for things like falling asleep when you’re driving or using heavy machinery. Some people see and hear things that aren’t there. Depression can get worse. Sometimes your blood pressure can drop when you stand up or sit up quickly. You can also have some numbness in your fingers or feet. For some reason, Parkinson’s may also be related to higher risk of melanoma, a form of skin cancer, and can worsen the increased pressure in your eyes if you have glaucoma. One side effect is having unusual urges, like gambling and compulsive eating. Russ says, "I didn't start gambling or overeating. There was a period of time when I started selling things online more than normal." Common side effects of Duopa are complications of tubing placement procedure, swelling in your legs and feet, high blood pressure, depression, nausea, and mouth and throat pain. Russ states, "Those considerations gave me a lot to think about, and talk to my doctor about, and I have to watch out for side effects.”

“After the procedure, the doctor had to find the dose that was right for me. This is where they find the right amount of medicine the pump should be delivering to me. After I got home, I'd say the first three months were the most difficult. It was a major adjustment," Russ remembers.

Over time, Russ adjusted to the Duopa routine and worked with his doctor to fine-tune the dose that was right for him. And now, as his wife Janet explains, "Russ and I enjoy the simple things in life, like spending time with family and friends. We also like going to the health center where Russ participates in a Parkinson’s disease exercise program."

Living with the Duopa pump

"I was nervous about carrying the pump around in the beginning, but I have accepted it as part of my life. It does require daily attention and you do have to take precautions to keep it safe and in working order. If I need help, my wife can give me a hand with maintaining my pump or setting it up, or changing the batteries. It's helpful to have her there, but I can do most of it myself," Russ says.

Russ also states, "I am much more comfortable with the pump now. Every day when I wake up, I feel so fortunate that I have this pump. Every day that passes, I get a little more used to it."

"I don't know where I would be today if I didn't have this pump, and for that I am so thankful."

KERN

A retired doctor and his wife and carer open up about their journey with Duopa.

PAUL

RUSS

Husband, father, and retired farmer who enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Read his story

MEET RUSS, A DUOPA PATIENT SINCE 2009

This is the personal story of one Duopa patient who has volunteered to tell his story. Individual experiences with Duopa may vary. Talk to your doctor to see if Duopa is right for you.

Russ D. was in his forties. He owned and ran what he calls "a typical Midwestern family farm" in Iowa, planting crops in the spring, tending to them in the summer, and harvesting in the fall. He spent the winter months servicing the farm equipment, doing the books, and marketing his crop of corn and soybeans. He loved traveling with Janet, his wife of 15 years, and their two young kids. In his spare time, Russ also loved flying. He had a commercial pilot's license, and occasionally flew charter and freight planes.

One day, Russ was loading a truck with grain and noticed something strange. His right hand was "kind of sticking" to his side, as he describes it.

Then, Russ says, "I went to see the neurologist and got the diagnosis. That was a life-changing event, of course, and I told my family and everybody was just sort of stunned."

Life with Parkinson's disease

I got to the point where I was taking levodopa pills every 90 minutes, but still had motor fluctuations.

Upon the initial Parkinson's diagnosis, Russ didn't fully understand what it was, but his wife had a pretty good idea. "It was frightening. My wife is a nurse, and she knew what was coming. The future started to feel very scary," Russ recalls. After further explanation, and doing some research on Parkinson's, he decided he would do everything possible to fight it.

Russ' doctor prescribed carbidopa/levodopa pills. The medication worked for Russ, but he began to have persistent "OFF" time, even with frequent doses. "I got to the point where I was taking levodopa pills every 90 minutes, but still had motor fluctuations."

Deciding on Duopa

Russ began researching other treatment options on the internet. That’s when he discovered a clinical trial for a different form of carbidopa/levodopa that was delivered to the intestine through a pump, now known as Duopa. Russ, like all patients taking Duopa, had a procedure to make a small hole (called a “stoma”) in his stomach wall to place a tube into his intestine. Duopa is continuously delivered through the tube over 16 hours by a pump. The most common adverse reactions associated with this stoma procedure are stomach pain and discomfort.

“Before I had the stoma surgery, I asked my doctor to tell me everything I needed to know about complications and risks involved with the procedure and the drug,” says Russ. His doctor also discussed the possibility of stoma infection and the importance of proper stoma care. Russ says he’s very careful about keeping his stoma clean.

Russ’ doctor went over all the things that Russ needed to look out for. With Duopa you have to watch out for things like falling asleep when you’re driving or using heavy machinery. Some people see and hear things that aren’t there. Depression can get worse. Sometimes your blood pressure can drop when you stand up or sit up quickly. You can also have some numbness in your fingers or feet. For some reason, Parkinson’s may also be related to higher risk of melanoma, a form of skin cancer, and can worsen the increased pressure in your eyes if you have glaucoma. One side effect is having unusual urges, like gambling and compulsive eating. Russ says, "I didn't start gambling or overeating. There was a period of time when I started selling things online more than normal." Common side effects of Duopa are complications of tubing placement procedure, swelling in your legs and feet, high blood pressure, depression, nausea, and mouth and throat pain. Russ states, "Those considerations gave me a lot to think about, and talk to my doctor about, and I have to watch out for side effects.”

“After the procedure, the doctor had to find the dose that was right for me. This is where they find the right amount of medicine the pump should be delivering to me. After I got home, I'd say the first three months were the most difficult. It was a major adjustment," Russ remembers.

Over time, Russ adjusted to the Duopa routine and worked with his doctor to fine-tune the dose that was right for him. And now, as his wife Janet explains, "Russ and I enjoy the simple things in life, like spending time with family and friends. We also like going to the health center where Russ participates in a Parkinson’s disease exercise program."

Living with the Duopa pump

"I was nervous about carrying the pump around in the beginning, but I have accepted it as part of my life. It does require daily attention and you do have to take precautions to keep it safe and in working order. If I need help, my wife can give me a hand with maintaining my pump or setting it up, or changing the batteries. It's helpful to have her there, but I can do most of it myself," Russ says.

Russ also states, "I am much more comfortable with the pump now. Every day when I wake up, I feel so fortunate that I have this pump. Every day that passes, I get a little more used to it."

"I don't know where I would be today if I didn't have this pump, and for that I am so thankful."

Important Safety Information

What is the most important safety information I should know about DUOPA?

Stomach and intestine (gastrointestinal) problems and problems from the procedure you will need to have to receive DUOPA (gastrointestinal procedure-related problems) may occur. Some of these problems may require surgery and may lead to death.

Your healthcare provider will talk to you about the stoma procedure.
Before the stoma procedure, tell your healthcare provider if you ever had a surgery or problems with your stomach.

Talk to your healthcare provider about what you need to do to care for your stoma.
After the procedure, you and your healthcare provider will need to regularly check the stoma for any signs of infection.

Symptoms of infection may include: drainage, redness, swelling, pain, or feeling of warmth around the small hole in your stomach wall (stoma).

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of stomach and intestine problems and gastrointestinal procedure-related problems: stomach (abdominal) pain; constipation that does not go away; nausea or vomiting; fever; blood in your stool; or a dark tarry stool.

Do not take DUOPA if you currently take or have recently taken (within 2 weeks) a medication for depression called a non-selective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAO Inhibitor.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using DUOPA with certain other medicines, including medications for high blood pressure, MAO inhibitors, antipsychotics, metoclopramide, isoniazid, and iron or vitamin supplements, may cause serious side effects. High-protein foods may affect how DUOPA works. Tell your healthcare provider if you change your diet.

DUOPA may cause serious side effects. Talk to your doctor before starting DUOPA and while on DUOPA if you have had or have any of these:

Falling asleep during normal daily activities without warning. DUOPA may cause you to fall asleep while you are doing daily activities such as driving, which may result in an accident. This can happen as late as one year after starting DUOPA.
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how DUOPA affects you. Tell your healthcare provider if you take medicines that can make you sleepy, such as sleep medicines, antidepressants, or antipsychotics.

Low blood pressure when you stand or sit up quickly. After you have been sitting or lying down, stand up slowly to help reduce dizziness, nausea, sweating, or fainting until you know how DUOPA affects you.

Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not real (hallucinations).

Unusual urges. Some people taking medicines for Parkinson’s disease, including DUOPA, have reported urges such as excessive gambling, compulsive eating, compulsive shopping, and increased sex drive.

Depression and suicide. DUOPA can cause or worsen depression. Pay close attention to changes in your mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you feel depressed or have thoughts of suicide.

Uncontrolled sudden movements (dyskinesia). If you have new dyskinesia or your dyskinesia gets worse, tell your healthcare provider. This may be a sign that your dose of DUOPA or other Parkinson’s medicines may need to be adjusted.

Progressive weakness or numbness or loss of sensation in the fingers or feet (neuropathy).

Heart attack or other heart problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have experienced increased blood pressure, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or chest pain.

Parkinson’s disease patients are at an increased risk of developing
melanoma, a form of skin cancer. See your healthcare provider for regular skin examinations when taking DUOPA.

Worsening of the increased pressure in your eyes (glaucoma). The pressure in your eyes should be checked after starting DUOPA.

Do not stop using DUOPA or change your dose unless you are told to do so by your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop withdrawal symptoms such as fever, confusion, or severe muscle stiffness.

The most common side effects of DUOPA include: complications of tubing placement procedure, swelling of legs and feet, nausea, high blood pressure (hypertension), depression, and mouth and throat pain.

Please see the full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide for additional information about DUOPA. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

If you cannot afford your medication, contact www.pparx.org for assistance.

Use

DUOPA (carbidopa and levodopa) enteral suspension is a prescription medicine used for treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease. DUOPA contains two medicines: carbidopa and levodopa.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important safety information I should know about DUOPA?

Stomach and intestine (gastrointestinal) problems and problems from the procedure you will need to have to receive DUOPA (gastrointestinal procedure-related problems) may occur. Some of these problems may require surgery and may lead to death.

Your healthcare provider will talk to you about the stoma procedure.
Before the stoma procedure, tell your healthcare provider if you ever had a surgery or problems with your stomach.

Talk to your healthcare provider about what you need to do to care for your stoma.
After the procedure, you and your healthcare provider will need to regularly check the stoma for any signs of infection.

You’re leaving Duopa.com

You are now leaving Duopa.com. Please note that our terms of use (especially those mentioned under "Disclaimer and Imprint") are no longer valid as soon as you click on the "Visit site" button. As we do not have any influence on linked websites, we assume no liability for their content. If you would like to return to our website, please click the "Stay on Duopa.com" button.